Commenting as the Guardian reports that the government could announce investment into expanding free childcare in tomorrow's Budget, James Bowen, director of policy for school and nursery leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“While we will need to look closely at the detail, if the government does increase the hourly funding rates to early years providers this will be welcome news. We know that the funding settings currently receive from government is woefully inadequate and many providers simply cannot afford to operate at those levels.”